Labour has welcomed plans introduced by the Government to put vacant homes in Ireland back into use.

Housing spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan said the Government has "finally woken up" to the fact that there are almost 200,000 homes lying vacant throughout Ireland.

She said: "While Minister Murphy has yet to publish the Vacant Homes Strategy, I welcome the measures he announced today to bring vacant properties back into use.

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"I support the call by the Peter McVerry Trust for each County and City Council to appoint vacant homes officers to inspect properties and assess why these vacant properties are being left vacant and to proactively work to have them occupied again.

"During budgetary negotiations taking place over the coming months, Minister Murphy needs to ensure a vacant property tax will be introduced. This type of tax is the most effective tool to bring properties that have been empty for a long period of time back on stream.

"People all over the country can point to at least one abandoned property in their own area. I'm glad the Minister is finally making moves to bring back vacant properties into use and I look forward to a full suite of measures being introduced following the publication of the Vacant Homes Strategy that we were promised in July 2016."

(CD)